Rail joint



W. K. RUDDER. v

BML JOINT. APPLICATION man JAN. 6. 1922.

Y rail joint which is of highly simplified con-` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER K. BUDDER, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Q"RAIL JOINT.

lApplication filed January 6, 1922. Serial No. l527,405.

To all 'zo/10m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, VALTER K. RUDDnn, a citizenof the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail joints and has for its object the provision of an improved rail joint embodying a ball section adapted to be arranged between the balls of the meeting rail sections and to extend over the extended webs of the rails so that the moving of the rolling stock over the rails will not cause rapid wear of the joint.

A furtlierobject is to lprovide a rail joint which dispenses with the necessity of em Vploying bolts to connect the meeting ends of the rails and which is constructed to reduce the possibility of the meeting ends of the rails being disconnected to a minimum.

Further, the invention aims toprovide a struction, durable in use, and cheap to manufacture. Y

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will be apparent` during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective of the improved rail joint.

Figure 2 is a detail view of the same.

In the dra-wing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention the numerals 5 and 6 designate meeting rail sections mounted upon the usual cross ties 7. As illustrated in Figure 2 the balls 10 of the rails terminate short of the ends of the webs 12 and 13 so as to receive the ball 14 of' the improved rail joint, the said ball 111 being of the sanne cross sectional area as the balls 5 and 6 so that a smooth joint is provided. The ball 14 of the joint flatly rests upon the upper' edges of the extended webs 12 and 13 and is provided with pairs of downwardly directed lugs 16 adapted to be received within pairs of notches 18 in the upper' portions of the webs 12 and 13.

As illustrated in Figure 1 spaced walls specifiatinof Lettrarant. Patented M31-, 14, 1922 longitudinally extending flanges or top walls 21 of a chair designated by' the numeral 22. The chair 22 consists of a flat bottom plate having upstanding side walls 23 which flatly engage the edges of the base flanges 24 ofthe rail sections.

Preparatory to placing the improved joint at the meeting ends of' the rails the bottom plate of the chair 22 is brought flatly into contact with the base flanges 241 so that when the extended portions of the webs are inserted into the space between the side walls 20 the upper edges of the webs will clearthe lugs 16. When the meeting ends of the webs 13 contact the ball 14 is moved downwardly so that the lugs 16 are received within the notches 18.

lVhen the lugs 16 are thus received within the notches 18 a holding plate 27 is driven between the bottom wall of the chair 22 and the under side or" the base of the rail whereby the lugs are securely held in the notches 18. This positively prevents excessive endwise movement of the rail sections with relation to each other and also dispenses with the necessity of employing such fastening devices as bolts for connecting the meeting ends of the rails. Rail spikes 30 are driven through the overhanging flanges or Walls 21, through the base of the chair and into the cross tie. Also, the spikes 30 are driven through the holding plate 27 so as to hold the plate against endwise movement. It will be understood that the holding plate 27 may be driven into place with a sledge hammer or the like.

I claim 1. In a rail joint, the combination with a pair of rail sections having extended webs provided with notches, of a connecting member having a ball mounted on the extended portions of said webs and provided with downwardly extending lugs received within said notches, said connecting member being provided with side walls joined with said ball and flatly contacting with said webs, said connecting member also including a chair having overhanging flanges contacting with the base flanges of said rail sections.

2. In a rail joint, the combination with a pair of rail sections having extended webs provided with notches, of a connecting member having a ball mounted on the extended portions of said webs and provided with downwardly extending lugs received within said'notehes, said connecting member being provided with side Walls joined with said ball and flatly contacting With said? Webs, said connecting member also including a chair having overhanging flanges contacting with the base flanges of said rail sections, and a holding plate arranged between the base flanges of the rai-l sections andthe bott tom of said chair.

3. The construction set forth in claim 2, and fastening means extending through WALTER K. RUDDER.

lVitnesses: Y i l Y PAUL H. SEGNITZ, EMANUTEL ZULLo.' 

